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19

Red-capped Robin

(Petroica goodenovii)
Alternate name(s): "Redhead", "Robin Red-breast*"
Aboriginal name(s): "bullawang", "choondah", "tarongo"; "awi irta" [yura ngawarla];
"wi-oombeen", "guniibuu" [yuwaalaraay]; "menekedang" (WA)

Size: 11-12 cm; wing span 15-19.5 cm
Weight: 7-9 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Red-capped Robin at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

MALE

Close-up full-frontal view of an adult male Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Frontal view of an adult male Red-capped Robin
[Near Narrabri, NSW, September 2007]

Frontal/ventral view of a male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Close-up near-frontal view of a male Red-capped Robin looking for prey on the ground
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a male Red-capped Robin looking for prey on the ground
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a male Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Lateral view a male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]

Lateral view a male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eulo Bore, Eulo, QLD, June 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a male Red-capped Robin looking for prey on the ground
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Lateral/ventral view of an adult male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Lateral/ventral view of an adult male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a male Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Dorsal view of a male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Lateral view of a male Red-capped Robin, still largely in juvenile plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a male Red-capped Robin, still largely in juvenile plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wave Rock, near Hyden, WA, March 2017]

Frontal view of a female Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2016]

Close-up frontal shot of a female Red-capped Robin on the ground
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, June 2006]

Near-frontal view of a female Red-capped Robin
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, June 2006]

Close-up near-lateral view a female Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]

Close-up lateral view a female Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]

Lateral view of a female Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga NP, NSW, May 2021]

Lateral view of a female Red-capped Robin on the ground
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, June 2006]

This female Red-capped Robin sat conveniently at eye height
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, May 2011]

Lateral view a female Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eulo Bore, Eulo, QLD, June 2022]

Near-dorsal view a female Red-capped Robin looking back at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eulo Bore, Eulo, QLD, June 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a female Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wave Rock, near Hyden, WA, March 2017]

Dorsal view of a female Red-capped Robin
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, June 2006]

Sex unknown

Twitcher's tip

Note that in the field immature male and some female Red-capped Robins are very hard to distinguish. Some of the birds shown on this page may either be "variety B" females, with a red wash on their breast, or first-year males that do not have full adult plumage yet.

In addition to that ambiguity, some female/immature Red-capped Robins can have a small spot on the forehead (frons) that resembles VERY closely that of a female Flame Robin. Both peculiarities lead to inconsistencies between illustrations in different field guides.

Close-up frontal portrait of a Red-capped Robin; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

Frontal view of a Red-capped Robin; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2013]

Near-frontal view of a Red-capped Robin; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage
[Maules Creek, NSW, 2012]

Lateral view of a Red-capped Robin; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2014]

Lateral view of a Red-capped Robin hunting from a fencepost; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage

Lateral view of a Red-capped Robin; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

Dorsal view of a Red-capped Robin; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2014]

Frontal view of a female/immature Red-capped Robin with a small frontal spot similar to that of a female Flame Robin
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a (sub-adult) male Red-capped Robin developing its red patches, but not yet the black feathers to cover the rest of the head and its back; this bird probably has too much red on it to be a "variety B" female (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Close-up frontal view of a (sub-adult) male Red-capped Robin
[Pilliga NP, NSW, March 2021]

Close-up frontal view of a (sub-adult) male Red-capped Robin, now seen preening
[Pilliga NP, NSW, March 2021]

Lateral view of a (sub-adult) male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Lateral view of a (sub-adult) male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Frontal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Frontal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, March 2008]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin, seen with ruffled plumage after preening
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

The same juvenile Red-capped Robin as shown above, here seen preening
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2013]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2013]

Lateral view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, March 2008]

Different lateral view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin spreading its wings
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Female, right, feeding a dependent juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2019]

Male feeding a dependent juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Terry Hie Hie AA, NSW, September 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Terry Hie Hie AA, NSW, September 2019]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Dec Eggs: 2 - 4 Incubation period: 14 - 15 days Fledging age: 13 - 15 days

Nest building: Female Incubation: Female Dependent care: Female & male

The male tends to "propose" a number of nest sites, but the female makes the final selection. The preferred tree species for nesting is the Cypress pine.

While incubating, the female relies on the male to provide her with food, which is delivered near the nest (not while she is sitting on the nest).

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket Material: Bark fibres, grass stems, webs Height above ground: 0.5 - 10 m

Female Red-capped Robin on its nest; this bird was seen together with a male that was still largely in juvenile plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]

Female Red-capped Robin gluing the base of its nest on to a minor fork on a branch of a Cypress pine tree with spider webs
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Female Red-capped Robin sitting on the base of its nest
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Female Red-capped Robin standing on the base of its nest
[Bullawa Creek SCA, 15 km East of Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

A week later, the Red-capped Robin nest was probably complete, but still inconspicuous
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Close-up view of the female Red-capped Robin that we observed building the nest shown above (although, with its yellow gape, it looks like a juvenile bird)
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 16 x 13 mm Colour: Off-white, with many small dark-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Dispersive Elementary unit: Pair

We do not know why, but some robins are in the habit of spreading their wings while sitting on the ground, for no apparent reason. They do not stay like this long enough to be cooling. We have also not noticed other birds around to which they might be displaying (see photo below).

Dorsal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin on the ground, spreading its wings in a way observed by us only in robins
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

Food, Diet

Adults: Small insects Dependents: As adults Water intake: Daily

Like all other robins (all families), Red-capped Robins are flycatchers. Most robins hunt for insects from low to mid-level perches.

Male Red-capped Robin with its prey, a juicy caterpillar (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Buntine Rocks, 230 km North of Perth, WA, September 2013]

Male Red-capped Robin with its prey, flying insects, possibly for feeding its chicks (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Parachilna Creek, SA, September 2018]

Female Red-capped Robin with its prey, a grasshopper
[Near Bugilbone, NSW, June 2016]

Female Red-capped Robin with its prey, a juicy caterpillar
[Pilliga NP, NSW, June 2022]

Female Red-capped Robin that has caught an insect (which looks like a grasshopper)

It is astonishing to see that a bush cockroach will fit into the bill of this young Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

This Red-capped Robin has caught what looks like a beetle
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, September 2012]

Red-capped Robin usually hunt from low perches, but they can be found on the ground too - here a juvenile male
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

redcrob_20160613.m4a (NW NSW) Contact calls (male) © MD
redcrob_20220917.mp3 (NW NSW) Territorial calls? (male) © MD
redcrob_20221226.mp3 (NW NSW) Warning calls (juvenile) © MD
redcrob_20190917.m4a (NW NSW) Begging calls (juvenile) © MD

More Red-capped Robin sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.